The half glass of the great nautical industry in 2022 is fuller than empty.
According to Superyacht Times forecasts, charters will grow, while sales of used and new constructions will remain stable or slightly declining.
After having reported on an extraordinary 2021 for the market of boats over 30 metres, Superyacht Times tried to anticipate what awaits us this year, based on the main trends and initial feedback from the most qualified operators.
First, the global economy remains solid, and an even more encouraging sign for the industry is the continued rise in the number of global billionaires. According to Forbes, in 2020 there were 2095 billionaires worldwide; last year, that number rose to 2775. The spectrum of potential superyacht buyers is therefore continually expanding, and in 2022, these new "happy few" could contribute to a further boost to luxury yachting.
A major group like Burgess announced that it closed 2021 with a total value of €2 billion in yacht sales, exceeding its previous record by a good 27%: 50% of these sales concerned boats over 50 meters.
In the charter segment, Burgess has already seen a 25% increase in bookings this year, highlighting a supply-out-of-demand problem, as many owners are now choosing to spend more time on board their yachts, thus reducing available charter days. Also in the charter segment, data from another global player, Edmiston, is noteworthy, revealing a 9% increase in average days spent at sea. Charter users are therefore enjoying spending more time on their yachts, a trend that looks set to continue this year.
In terms of brokerage activity, 2021 was an extraordinary year, with 466 pre-owned yachts sold (+43%), with Edmiston itself taking the lion's share, handling 50% of yachts over 70 meters and 30% of those over 50 meters. The 47 boats sold by the English group, worth a total of €1 billion, were double the number sold in 2020.
2022 also looks solid for used yachts, although Superyacht Times estimates that only 1141 yachts will be listed for sale, a decline from last year. New builds also show the same trend. Finally, 2021 was the best year ever for new superyacht sales (300, nearly double the 154 in 2020), a result unlikely to be replicated, according to the analysis. The same goes for boats under construction, which totaled 550 last year (up 10% from 2020).
In conclusion, Superyacht Times predicts that 2022 will continue to be a very good year for the entire sector, especially for charter, but some of the exceptional numbers recorded last year will likely remain unmatched.
Optimism for the years to come is fueled not only by the number of orders for new constructions being received by shipyards, but also by the fact that traditionally, those who approach yachting for the first time through seasonal charters are strongly encouraged to stay, often passing through the ranks of buyers.
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